European Council President Antonio Costa praised Montenegro’s progress towards EU membership during his first official visit to the country on Wednesday.
He urged leaders to maintain momentum on reforms and policy coordination, particularly in support of lasting peace in Ukraine.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Montenegrin President Jakov Milatović, Costa commended the country’s reform efforts and noted that the European Parliament had “overwhelmingly recognised” Montenegro’s progress just the day before.
“It is now crucial to maintain the approach, to stay focused on the goal and not to slow down progress,” Costa said.
Referring to Montenegro’s stated goal of joining the EU by 2028, he described it as “a good slogan,” but stressed the importance of achieving that milestone as soon as possible.
Milatović welcomed Costa’s visit as a strong signal of support, not just for Montenegro but for the entire Western Balkans region. He underscored the importance of EU engagement ahead of an upcoming summit in Tirana.
“This meeting is a continuation of the dialogue we are conducting,” Milatović said. “Montenegro is proud of its status as a leader in EU integration. The goal is to become the next member by 2028.”
Milatović also reiterated Montenegro’s alignment with EU foreign policy, particularly in relation to the war in Ukraine.
“Since the beginning of the war, we have shown clear political support. We share the EU’s stance that Ukraine needs lasting peace,” he said.
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